In this episode of Blu Thread Conversations, host James Powell sits down with Stacy Parker, co-founder and Managing Director of Blu Ivy, to discuss the alarming findings of their latest white paper, "The CHRO and People Leaders Crisis: A Call for CEOs to Act."

DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY OF OUR LATEST WHITEPAPER HERE:

Dive deep into the critical challenges CHROs and People Leaders face, including burnout, mental health issues, and a significant drop in strategic focus. This episode is a must-listen for CEOs who need to understand the urgent call to action to support their HR leaders and ensure organizational stability and growth.

Key Takeaways

· Burnout and Mental Health Crisis:

o A staggering 58% of CHROs and People Leaders report burnout, mental health challenges, and exhaustion as their top issues. This crisis is exacerbated by the lack of support and resources, leaving HR leaders struggling to maintain their well-being while supporting others in the organization​.

· Strategic Focus Eroded:

o Many CHROs are spending less than 10% of their time on strategic initiatives due to the constant need to manage crises and operational emergencies. This shift from strategic planning to immediate issue management poses a significant risk to long-term business transformation and readiness for future challenges​.

· Loneliness and Isolation in Leadership:

o CHROs often experience profound loneliness and isolation, unable to share the burdens they carry due to the confidential nature of their work. This isolation contributes to the overall stress and burnout, as they lack a support network within their organizations

· Importance of Listening and Support:

o The research highlights the power of listening to CHROs and People Leaders. Many HR leaders feel unheard and unsupported, which contributes to their dissatisfaction and burnout. CEOs must prioritize listening to their HR leaders, understanding their challenges, and providing the necessary support to help them thrive​.

· Alarm Bells for CEOs:

o The white paper emphasizes the urgent need for CEOs to reassess their relationship with HR leaders. Establishing high-trust cultures, providing more resources, and ensuring open, honest communication are critical steps to prevent the imminent exodus of CHROs, which could destabilize organizational culture and efficiency.

Episode Chapters:

· (02:52) Blu Ivy's latest white paper focuses on leadership engagement and burnout

· (05:01) The importance of listening in leadership research

· (08:54) CHROs have navigated transformation and crisis over the last few years

· (12:44) 58% of respondents say burnout, mental health, exhaustion is top challenge

· (15:47) CHROs reported spending less than 10% of their time on strategy

· (19:35) A significant portion of CHROs are contemplating leaving their roles, research indicates

· (23:21) How has HR leadership evolved in terms of technology and AI integration?

· (28:08) How important is it for CEOs to reassess their partnership with HR in today's landscape

Episode Contacts:

· Stacy Parker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyrparker/

· James Powell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesdpowell/

Join Greg Whitfield and Stacy Parker as they dive into an enlightening conversation with Kristen Winter, EVP of Programs, People, and Leadership at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Join us on a deep dive into the heart of healthcare leadership as we explore the pivotal role of employer branding in recruitment and retention. Discover how Sunnybrook's commitment to culture, innovation, and community impact has transformed their approach to attracting top talent.

Learn about Sunnybrook’s unique culture of humility, teamwork, and the profound impact they have on patients and their families. Kristen shares insights on building a robust employer brand media strategy and the importance of a people-centric approach in transforming healthcare talent recruitment.

Key Takeaways:

• The Importance of Employer Brand Media in Recruitment and Retention
• Holistic Recruitment Strategies in Healthcare
• The Role of Leadership and Active Listening
• Strategic Media Partnerships and Cross Org Collaboration
• Resilience and Adaptability in the Healthcare Sector

Whether you're an HR professional, a leader in healthcare, or simply passionate about organizational excellence, this episode is a masterclass in aligning people, culture, and performance for measurable business success.

Chapters:

(02:57) Healthcare industry has gone through a lot of change recently

(03:31) Kristen Winter's WHY

(09:23) Sunnybrook has really risen above in terms of culture

(12:25) Sunnybrook Health need to amplify recruiting during the pandemic

(15:46) Blu Ivy used social media to target healthcare recruitment audience

(17:59) Employer branding is vital for attraction AND retention

(23:16) One of the biggest constraints around recruiting and retaining top talent is budget

(30:54) Biggest challenges and opportunities in healthcare

(34:23) Helping companies develop value propositions for their frontline talent

(43:06) Learn more about Sunnybrook careers

✍️Episode References

Careers @ Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

https://sunnybrook.ca/content/?page=why-choose-sunnybrook-career-opportunities

Episode Contacts:

• Kristen Winter: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-winter-ba-chre-mais-08ab293/
• Stacy Parker: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacyrparker/
• Greg Whitfield: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-whitfield/

Blu Ivy Group

https://www.bluivygroup.com

More about Blu Ivy Group

Blu Ivy Group is a global leader in employer branding, organizational culture, and recruitment marketing. We help organizations across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors build extraordinary employee experiences, magnetic employer brands and high-performance cultures.

Connect with us today and let us help you transform your organization into a workplace that inspires your employees, leaders, customers, and shareholders.

Contact: sparker@bluivygroup.com

Visit: bluivygroup.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blu-ivy-group

In this transformative episode of Blu Thread Conversations, we delve into the heart of organizational culture with Leslie Kobayashi, Vice President of Human Resources at Arbor Memorial.

Leslie discusses the pivotal role of listening to employees, the importance of authenticity in storytelling, and the integration of the EVP into every facet of the employee lifecycle. From engaging long-tenured employees to attracting the next generation of talent, Leslie's insights reveal the transformative impact of a well-articulated EVP on engagement, retention, and recruitment.

Key Takeaways:

- Authenticity and employee listening are key to developing an EVP that truly reflects organizational culture.

- Strategic partnerships between HR and marketing can elevate employer branding and internal culture initiatives.

- Recognition and rewards, rooted in the EVP, can significantly boost employee engagement and advocacy.

- An EVP is not just a recruitment tool but a foundational element that should permeate all aspects of the employee experience.

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📋 Episode Chapters

(04:20) Arbor Memorial is a Canadian leader in the bereavement industry

(07:01) Arbor started the process of building an employee value proposition

(08:53) Arbor listened to employees about what their why is

(10:17) The number one reason for Gen Zs to join an organization is social impact

(14:23) You've made employee testimonials a core part of Arbor's culture

(25:01) Having a strategic partnership between HR and marketing can boost your brand

(28:51) Getting executives aligned on employer brand

(31:18) Getting your EVP activated is easy once you've gone through the work

(34:19) Employee listening for an EVP is far more than recognition

(35:33) Employer brand and EVP measurement success

About Arbor Memorial:

Arbor Memorial Inc. is a Canadian company engaged in providing interment rights, cremations, funerals and associated merchandise and services to thousands of families each year across Canada.

Named as one of Canada's Best Managed Companies in 2023, taking care of people is at the heart of what we do. It’s truly fulfilling, inspiring and a responsibility we never take lightly. The care we show our customers begins with the support and teamwork we show each other.

✍️ Episode References

Arbor Memorial

http://arbormemorial.com

Arbor Memorial Careers

https://www.arbormemorial.ca/en/careers/life-at-arbor.html

Blu Ivy Group

https://www.bluivygroup.com

More about Blu Ivy Group

Blu Ivy Group is a global leader in employer branding, organizational culture, and recruitment marketing. We help organizations across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors build extraordinary employee experiences, magnetic employer brands and high-performance cultures.

Connect with us today and let us help you transform your organization into a workplace that inspires your employees, leaders, customers, and shareholders.

Contact: sparker@bluivygroup.com

Visit: bluivygroup.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blu-ivy-group

Are you striving to create an employer brand that truly stands out? In our latest episode, we sit down with Jackie Whitson, Director, Culture & Employer Brand and Tess McLeod, Associate Director, Culture-to-Brand, from ATB Financial to explore the ins and outs of building a magnetic employer brand.

They share their award-winning strategies, the importance of intentional culture, and the power of employee advocacy. Learn how ATB's approach to employer branding has led to a high-performance culture and a robust pipeline of top talent. Don't miss these invaluable insights – listen now to elevate your organization's employer brand strategy!

📋 Episode Chapters

(02:30) How ATB approaches employer branding

(06:58) ATB brings both brand and HR culture teams together to support employer brand strategy

(10:54) Activating your employer brand with intention

(13:47) How to find internal employee advocates

(15:15) ATB's employee advocate training program to empower its employees to share on social media

(18:30) ATB's advice for other CHRO and employer branding leaders

(19:42) What's next on ATB's employer brand journey

(22:33) How do you ensure your value proposition is lived internally before sharing externally

(24:45) Episode reflection for CHROs

About ATB Financial:

ATB Financial is a leading financial institution that started in Alberta, Canada that has been recognized as a Great Place To Work for the past 8 years. Today, ATB has over 5000 team members serving over 800,000 clients across our personal and business banking areas, ATB wealth management and ATB Capital Markets.

✍️ Episode References

ATB Financial

https://www.atb.com

ATB Financial Careers

https://www.atb.com/careers

ATB Financial LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/atb-financial/

ATB Financial Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/atbfinancial/

Blu Ivy Group

https://www.bluivygroup.com

More about Blu Ivy Group

Blu Ivy Group is a global leader in employer branding, organizational culture, and recruitment marketing. We help organizations across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors build extraordinary employee experiences, magnetic employer brands and high-performance cultures.

Connect with us today and let us help you transform your organization into a workplace that inspires your employees, leaders, customers, and shareholders.

Contact: sparker@bluivygroup.com

Visit: bluivygroup.com

Connect with us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blu-ivy-group

In today's episode of Blu Thread Conversations, we unravel the fabric of an iconic company on their journey to becoming a people-first organization with Wajax's Chief People Officer, Mark Edgar. With a storied career in HR and a passion for positive change, Mark discusses the transformative power of a strong employer brand and employee value proposition.

Learn how Wajax is navigating the complexities of employee expectations, technological advancements, and the ever-evolving landscape of work. This candid conversation offers invaluable insights for HR, brand, and communication leaders looking to weave a stronger, more resilient organizational culture.

Guest Links:

* future foHRward

* foHRsight podcast with Mark Edgar & Naomi Titleman

Episode Host:

* Leandra Harris

Episode Intro & Wrap-up:

* James Powell

📋 Episode Chapters

(00:00) Blue Thread Conversations is podcast designed for transformational leaders reshaping organizations

(02:31) Leandra: Welcome to our third podcast on Blu Thread conversations

(04:50) Mark is a recovering CHRO who joined Wajax in 2011

(06:41) Mark spent three and a half years in consulting before joining Wajax

(10:12) You've spoken about macro trends including changing employee expectations

(11:49) Mark says changing expectations are impacting the way people interact with work

(16:02) Is it achievable? Some people may say, what do you do if layoffs are necessary

(17:25) Wajax sees the important role that organizations play in society these days

(20:35) What does people-first mean at Wajax? It's something we're wrestling with

(23:30) Mark: Senior leadership making commitment to be authentic with employees is critical

(29:16) How will you engage your managers? Because they're critical stakeholder

(34:03) Leandra: How does this work fit in with overall business goals

(39:02) Mark shares his company's people first business strategy with us

More about Blu Ivy Group

Blu Ivy Group is a global leader in employer branding, organizational culture, and recruitment marketing. We help organizations across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors build extraordinary employee experiences, magnetic employer brands and high-performance cultures.

Connect with us today and let us help you transform your organization into a workplace that inspires your employees, leaders, customers, and shareholders.

Contact: sparker@bluivygroup.com

Visit: bluivygroup.com

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blu-ivy-group

As we kick off 2024, we've asked Blu Ivy Group co-founders Stacy Parker and Leandra Harris to join us to share their expert insights as employer brand and culture leaders for what they see coming in the year ahead.

Together, Stacy and Leandra have expertly weaved and created employer brand and culture strategies for over 200 companies around the world, working with some of the most recognizable brand names in retail, financial services, energy, health, hospitality, and technology as they work towards their vision of creating a world of human-centered and high-performance workplaces.

In this episode of Blu Thread Conversations, hosted by James Powell, you'll learn how CHROs and C-Suite teams can use their employer brand and the EVP as a strategic framework for business impact and dive into the top employer trends and culture trends of the year.

More about Blu Ivy Group

Blu Ivy Group is a global leader in employer branding, organizational culture, and recruitment marketing. We help organizations across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors build extraordinary employee experiences, magnetic employer brands and high-performance cultures.

Connect with us today and let us help you transform your organization into a workplace that inspires your employees, leaders, customers, and shareholders.

Contact: sparker@bluivygroup.com

Visit: bluivygroup.com

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blu-ivy-group

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluivygroup/

Welcome to today’s episode of ‘Blu Thread Conversations’ My name is Stacy Parker, co-founder of Blu Ivy Group, and I'll be your host for today's episode.

Today, I’m thrilled to be joined with two exceptional guests from one of North America's top employers, Mattamy Homes. Mattamy Homes in one of the largest privately owned builders and developers in North America and is Canada’s largest residential home builder. Mattamy consistently wins top employer awards including Best Workplace Culture, Best Managed Workplace and Best Employer Brand.

Our first guest is Brent Carey, Vice President of Communications for Mattamy Asset Management, Brent is a dynamic , award winning , corporate storyteller, who has worked to align the way that Mattamy thinks about culture, internal employee experience and performance.

And joining Brent is, Kaitlyn Anderson, Senior Manager, Communication from Mattamy Asset Management,. Kaitlyn is a trailblazer renowned for creating, launching, and activating Mattamy's employer brand.

After more than 15 years of working on global employer brands, my observation is that companies that have the biggest impact and long-term success of the work often is traced to one’s ability to influence and inspire internal stakeholders, at all levels in an organization.

That’s why we wanted to talk with Brent and Kaitlyn. They have been pivotal change agents for the employer brand transformation within Mattamy. I am excited to have them to share their insights, experiences, and ...the secrets behind their success.

More about Blu Ivy Group

Blu Ivy Group is a global leader in employer branding, organizational culture, and recruitment marketing. We help organizations across the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors build extraordinary employee experiences, magnetic employer brands and high-performance cultures.

Connect with us today and let us help you transform your organization into a workplace that inspires your employees, leaders, customers, and shareholders.

Contact: sparker@bluivygroup.com
Visit: bluivygroup.com

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blu-ivy-group

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluivygroup/